Foodborne illness\u00a0is any\u00a0illness\u00a0resulting from the food spoilage of\u00a0contaminated food,\u00a0pathogenic\u00a0bacteria,\u00a0viruses, or\u00a0parasites\u00a0that contaminate food, as well as chemical or natural\u00a0toxins\u00a0such as\u00a0poisonous mushrooms\u00a0and various species of\u00a0beans that have not been boiled\u00a0for at least 10 minutes. Symptoms vary depending on the cause, and are described below in this article. A few broad generalizations can be made, e.g.: The\u00a0incubation period\u00a0ranges from hours to days, depending on the cause and on how much was consumed. The incubation period tends to cause sufferers to not associate the symptoms with the item consumed, and so to cause sufferers to attribute the symptoms to\u00a0gastroenteritis\u00a0for example. Symptoms often include vomiting, fever, and aches, and may include diarrhea. Bouts of vomiting can be repeated with an extended delay in between, because even if infected food was eliminated from the stomach in the first bout,\u00a0microbes\u00a0(if applicable) can pass through the\u00a0stomach\u00a0into the\u00a0intestine\u00a0via\u00a0cells\u00a0lining the intestinal walls and begin to multiply. Some types of microbes stay in the intestine, some produce a\u00a0toxin\u00a0that is absorbed into the\u00a0bloodstream, and some can directly invade deeper body tissues.<\/p>\n
Foodborne illness usually arises from improper handling, preparation, or\u00a0food storage. Good\u00a0hygiene\u00a0practices before, during, and after food preparation can reduce the chances of contracting an illness. There is a consensus in the public health community that regular hand-washing is one of the most effective defenses against the spread of foodborne illness. The action of monitoring food to ensure that it will not cause foodborne illness is known as\u00a0food safety. Foodborne disease can also be caused by a large variety of toxins that affect the environment.\u00a0Foodborne illness can also be caused by\u00a0pesticides\u00a0or\u00a0medicines\u00a0in food and naturally toxic substances such as\u00a0poisonous mushrooms\u00a0or\u00a0reef fish.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t